Horses living into their twenties and thirties require specialized management addressing the unique health challenges of equine aging while maintaining quality of life.
Senior horse welfare requires proactive management across multiple systems simultaneously. PPID causes coat changes, muscle wasting, and laminitis risk — early diagnosis through ACTH testing and treatment with pergolide prevents much of the associated suffering. Dental management must transition from routine maintenance to compensatory care as teeth wear — affected horses require dental assessment every 6 months and dietary adaptation including soaked feeds and senior mixes that bypass dental limitations. Arthritis management combining appropriate exercise, joint supplements, and veterinary pain medication maintains mobility and quality of life. Social connection is a welfare priority at all ages — retirement should not mean isolation. Supporting owners through the quality-of-life assessment process and euthanasia decision is an important welfare intervention preventing both premature and delayed end-of-life decisions.